The Powerball jackpot is set to get even bigger. A reporter will explain.
USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes explains the historic agreement with Britain’s National Lottery.
The Powerball jackpot has increased to $283 million with a cash value of $126.8 million ahead of the drawing on Wednesday, June 17th.
Since its launch in 1992, the Powerball jackpot has been hit more than 400 times. Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin rank among the states with the most winning jackpot tickets.
The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was over a month ago, on May 2nd. Two players (one from Texas, one from Florida) split the $20 million prize that night.
So far in 2026, there have been seven jackpot winners.
Here’s what you need to know about Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing.
What are the winning Powerball numbers for June 17th?
The winning Powerball numbers for Wednesday, June 17th are 3, 26, 49, 53, 61 and the Powerball is 12. The “power play” multiplier is 2x.
Do I have to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball?
The short answer is no. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to play Powerball.
Anyone visiting any of the 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands may purchase lottery tickets from authorized and licensed retailers, regardless of nationality, as long as they meet the legal age requirements (usually 18 years old) at the time of purchase.
Top 10 Powerball Jackpots
- $2.04 billion in California on November 7, 2022
- December 24, 2025, $1.817 billion in Arkansas.
- $1.787 billion in Missouri and Texas on September 6, 2025
- $1.765 billion in California on October 11, 2023
- January 13, 2016, $1.586 billion in California, Florida, and Tennessee
- April 6, 2024, $1.326 billion in Oregon.
- $1.08 billion in California on July 19, 2023
- January 1, 2024, $842.4 million in Michigan.
- March 27, 2019, $768.4 million in Wisconsin
- August 23, 2017, $758.7 million in Massachusetts
How to play Powerball
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This can be done at a variety of locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores.
In some states, you can purchase Powerball tickets online depending on your local jurisdiction.
Once you have your ticket, you have to choose six numbers. Five of them will be white balls ranging from 1 to 69.
The red Powerball range is 1-26. You can also add a “power play” for $1. This increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. “Power Play” multipliers can increase your winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x.
A “Quick Pick” option is also available if you want the computer to select the numbers for you. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls and the red Powerball in any order.
Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. The winnings continue to increase even if no one wins the jackpot.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
